News

National Report on Parental Information and Resource Centers Highlights Edvantia's West Virginia Center

The National Coalition of Parental Information and Resource Centers (NCPIRC) recently published a data book on their national outcomes. The book, Great Families Mean Great Schools: PIRC Outcome Data 2008-2009, details the impact state PIRCs have had on parents and school-family relationships and features the achievements of notable PIRCs throughout the country. One of those centers featured is Edvantia’s West Virginia Parent Connections (WVPC). Click here to read the full release. Click here to download the report.

What are the effects of students repeating kindergarten?

From the Indianapolis Star (October 10, 2010) - "Does it make sense to have a child repeat kindergarten when research shows it seems to have little long-term benefit? Does it make sense given that studies show that failing a year of school increases a child's chances of eventually dropping out by 20 percent?" A look at the practice of retaining kindergartens in Indianapolis public schools. Click here to read the entire article.

WVPC Receives Proclamation as Governor Announces October as "West Virginia Parental Involvement Month"

Governor Joe Manchin, III officially announced October as “West Virginia Parental Involvement Month” in a ceremony yesterday morning at the state capital where Anita Deck, Program Director for West Virginia Parent Connections at Edvantia, received the proclamation.

The purpose of “Parental Involvement Month” is to bring attention to the important role parents play in their children’s education. “Research shows us that there is a direct connection between student success and parental involvement,” explains Deck, “and just as we need parents to support students, parents also need to be supported and encouraged. Governor Manchin’s proclamation sets an excellent example that we hope the entire state will follow.”

Click here to read the entire proclamation.
Photo courtesy of Steven W. Rotsch, Governor Manchin's Office

National Coalition of PIRCs Releases Data Book

The National Coalition of PIRCs (NCPIRC) has been working for the last few months on a national outcome book for PIRCs. In June, NCPIRC agreed that there was a need to tell our collective story, as so many of us struggle with explaining what it is PIRCs do, and what our value and impacts are. The data book emerged as an important strategy, which would help us communicate locally and nationally with funders, our boards, partners, policy-makers, and others, about our work. It will be particularly effective when used with a short summary of your PIRC’s individual program impacts, as I know many of you already develop. The 2008-2009 book is completed, and available for your use. Click here to download a pdf copy.

New Literacy Help for Back to School/Ready for School

West Virginia Parent Connections at Edvantia just completed a collection of resources to help parents and teachers work together. The literacy resource kit includes a guide to helping children become better readers, a story book, and a short video that explains why reading aloud is so important to developing reading skills. In addition, WV Parent Connections offers workshops to help teachers and families use these materials. Read more.

Cultivating Success: Nurturing Parent and Family Involvement in Rural Schools

Friday, February 13, 2009
2:00 p.m.—3:00 p.m. Eastern
Free

Rural schools often are true community centers, and they can support parent and community involvement that benefits both student achievement and community sustainability. Making the best use of opportunities for involvement becomes ever more important as many rural schools serve increasingly diverse students.

Educators and parents are invited to tune in to this free webinar to learn about how to help schools encourage parent involvement. This is the second in a series of three webinars sponsored by Appalachia Regional Comprehensive Center (ARCC) at Edvantia.

To participate, you’ll need a telephone and a computer that’s connected to the Internet. After you register, you’ll receive information about how to connect to the Internet site to watch the visual elements and a toll-free phone number to connect to the audio portion.

For more information or to register, follow this link.

Putnam Parent Information Fair

West Virginia Parent Connections will be among the participants at the Putnam County Parent Information Fair on February 27, 2009. The event will be held in the commons area of the Putnam County Technical Center in Eleanor from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Sponsors include Putnam County Schools Office of Federal Programs, the Putnam County Regional Family Resource Network, AFL-CIO Appalachian Council Head Start, Tri-County YMCA, and River Valley Child Development Services.

The fair will provide information about the educational programs provided by Putnam County Schools and community services available for the children and parents of Putnam County. Parents can also get information about the Putnam County 4 Year Old Pre-K Program for the 2009-2010 school year. No parent registration is necessary.

All county Title I schools will be participating, and every school is invited, so parents and community members can meet the teachers and learn about school programs. If you need more information, contact Bruce Faulkner, Director of Federal Programs/Pre-K at 304.586.0500, ext. 107 or send e-mail to bfaulkne@access.k12.wv.us.

October is West Virginia Parent Involvement in Education Month

CHARLESTON, WV—October 2, 2008. Today marks the official announcement of West Virginia Parent Involvement in Education Month. The proclamation by Governor Joe Manchin is intended to help West Virginia parents and educators celebrate the important role parents play as teachers and advocates of education for their children. West Virginia Parent Connections at Edvantia, in partnership with the West Virginia PTA and the West Virginia Department of Education’s Parental Involvement Task Force, worked with the Governor’s office to make this designation. “Because education research shows that student achievement improves when parents get involved, we wanted a special way to acknowledge and encourage parents who get involved with their children’s learning,” said West Virginia Parent Connections director Anita Deck. “The Governor’s proclamation underscores the value and importance for parents. And, really, something as simple as talking to your child about what happens at school and what they’re studying can make a big difference in how well the child does. When parents make it clear that education is important, children respond by becoming more engaged.” The full text of the press release is available at http://www.edvantia.org /about/news/press/press080926PI.htm.

Math and Parents

The Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative, a program of the U.S. Department of Education, has resources that preschool teachers and parents can use to help young children develop mathematical knowledge before they start kindergarten. Teacher-to-Teacher has created a short film for schools and teachers to share with parents—or for parents to view on their own. It can be used during open houses, conferences, PTO/PTA meetings, or parent math nights. The video and Doing What Works learning opportunities are listed under the Digital Learning tab at https://www.t2tweb.us/Digital/NMP.asp.

Free Podcasts
Parent Involvement: Keys to Success

CHARLESTON, WV, May 22, 2008—Visit the Appalachia Regional Comprehensive Center Web site (ARCC at Edvantia) has released the first three in a series of podcasts on parent involvement to improve student learning. The series was developed by experts at the National Center for Family Literacy, an ARCC and West Virginia Parent Connections at Edvantia partner. The primary audience for the podcasts is educators at state departments of education; however, educators at all levels will find helpful information and strategies they can use to build parent involvement in student learning.

State Leaders to Develop and Grow Network of Parents as Teachers Programs

St. Louis, May 7, 2008—Anita Deck (WV), Dr. Ruth Elswood (FL), Helma Irving (MD), and Jennifer Barshack (MN) will help lead advocacy efforts for Parents as Teachers at the state and national levels and collaborate with other programs interested in expanding early learning, child development, and parent involvement. The four new state leaders are now in place and charged with growing and expanding Parents as Teachers, one of the largest parent education programs in the nation.

The new state leaders, along with their sponsoring agencies, will help lead advocacy efforts for Parents as Teachers at the state and national levels and collaborate with other programs. They will also support the delivery of training and professional development of early childhood professionals in their states and oversee quality improvement for the programs offering Parents as Teachers services. More.

Parents as Teachers Office in West Virginia

CHARLESTON, WV, March 20, 2008—West Virginia Parent Connections at Edvantia has been designated by the Parents as Teachers (PAT) National Center as the state office for its national program. Local PAT programs help prepare young children for success in school by providing parents with child development knowledge and parenting support. Sixteen PAT programs currently operate in West Virginia. All use a four-part intervention model known as Born to Learn, which uses trained Parent Educators to deliver services to parents and provide professional development to early childhood professionals.

As the state office for PAT, WV Parent Connections will provide leadership and oversight for all PAT programs in the state and work to expand the reach of PAT programs statewide. An important part of outreach will be developing strategic alliances with other early childhood programs, state and national agencies, and organizations.

Assuming the role of State Supervisor for PAT is Beverly Davis, who will coordinate and deliver supervision, training, and technical assistance for the programs. Davis was a Parent Educator with the first West Virginia PAT program, established in 1993. “I look forward to being a part of this adventure,” said Davis. “As the state office, WV Parent Connections is fulfilling a great need for West Virginia and for PAT.”

This Web site is supported in whole or in part by funds from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Innovation and Improvement, under grant #U310A060257. Its content does not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Education, any other agency of the U.S. government, or any other source.